Typewriter ribbon mechanism



y 1950 M. VON DUYKE 2,508,780

TYPEWRITER RIBBON MECHANISM Filed-May 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

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ATTOR/VE'X y 3, 1950 H. M. VON DUYKE 2,508,780

TYPEWRITER RIBBON MECHANISM F'iled May l3, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. .Fkrrzwrz 771. Vdnjzq Za;

. ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1950 TYPEWRITER RIBBON MECHANISM Harrison M. Von Duyke, Wilmington, Del., assignor to New Dictatype Company, Incorporated, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application May 13, 1947, Serial No. 747,608

13 Claims. (Cl. 197-168) This invention relates to typewriter ribbon mechanism, and it relates more particularly to the ribbon mechanism of a typewriter of the stenographic type.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide, in a typewriting machine, improved mechanism for feeding an ink ribbon, with a step by step movement, between the type bars and the platen over which the paper is fed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide ribbon mechanism, of the character aforesaid, having improved means for supplying ink to the ribbon from a reservoir in which the ink is replenished from time to time.

A further object of the invention is to provide ribbon mechanism, of the character aforesaid, in which the ribbon is of endlessform, whereby the same will be relatively inexpensive and easy to renew when the same becomes worn.

A further object of the invention is to provide ribbon mechanism, of the character aforesaid, with improved means for maintaining the ribbon at a proper tension and for automatically taking up any slack therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide ribbon mechanism, of the character aforesaid, which may be readily and conveniently dismantled and reassembled for repair or replacement-Of worn or damaged parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide ribbon mechanism, of the character aforesaid, with certain improved details of construction which will insure proper functioning and efficient operation of the same at all times.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a typewriter ribbon mechanism embodying the main features of the present invention;-

Fig. 2 is avertical section thereof, taken apdescription and drawings herein are illustrative without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in the particular mechanism of the present invention is adapted to be used.

A platen I 2, over which the paper is fed, is

journaled in the framework by means of the shaft [3. The platen I2 is normally actuated with a step by step movement by suitable mech-' anism of any desired kind. In machines of this type, the platen is usually advanced a portion of' a revolution for each unitary impression of one or more of the type bars.

It is of course to be understood than in such machines it is customary to actuate a number of type bars at the same time so that various characters are often imprinted on the paper at several places in a single line. I I

The shaft l3 upon which the platen I 2 is mounted extends to one side of the frame plate H, and said shaft has a gear wheel I; mounted" thereon. The gear wheel l4 meshes with a pinion l5 mounted on an extending end of a horizontal shaft H5. The shaft 16 is provided midway the side frame plates l0 and H with a worm I] which meshes with and operates a worm wheel [8' which is rotatably mounted on a vertical spindle l9. The spindle I9 is fixedly secured at its lower end in a horizontal plate 20 which is provided at its edges with ears 2| by means of which said plate 20 is secured to the side frame plates H1 and II.

A washer 22 is interposed between the worm wheel l8 and the horizontal plate 20 to reduce the friction between the parts. Another washer 23, for spacing purposes, is mounted on the vertical spindle l9. Above said washer 23 there is mounted a disc member 24, andsaid disc member is provided with downwardly strupk lugs 25 which extend into apertures 26 provided" in the worm wheel I8. I

The foregoing arrangement is provided so that when the worm wheel I8 is actuated by the worm I! the disc member 24 will be constrained to rotate in unison therewith.

The disc member 24 is also provided with struck up lugs 21 which extend into apertures 28 in a disc member 29, so that said disc members 24 and 29 are constrained to rotate in unison. Sur

rounding the periphery of the discmember 29 is a foraminous walled cylinder 30. Internally disposed with respect to the perforated wall of the cylinder 30 is an annulus 8| of felt or other suitable absorbent material. An internal cylinder 32 holds the felt annulus against the perforated cylinder 30. The foregoing arrangement provides a reservoir for supplying ink to the ribbon as the same passes around the perforated cylinder.

A cover plate 33 extends over the top of the cylinder 35, being provided with a plurality of cutouts 34 by means of which the ink may be supplied to the felt annulus whenever it is necessary to replenish the supply.

Another horizontal plate member 35 is disposed with its upper surface in alinement with the lower edge of the perforated cylinder 30 and said plate member 35 is provided near one front corner with a vertical spindle 35 upon which a flanged spool 31 is journaled upon a fixedly located axis.

Near the other side of the plate member 35 a slide member 39 is mounted on the under face thereof. Said slide member 39 carries avertical spindle 40 upon which a flanged spool 4| is journaled. The spindle 40 extends through a slot 42 in the plate member 35, and the slide member 39 is also provided with an upwardly extending lug 43 which passes through a slot 44 in the plate member 35 and slidably engages a horizontal pin 45.

The pin 45 is secured at its innermost end in a lug 46 which extends upwardly from the plate member 35. The pin 45 also serves as a support for a coil spring 41 the ends of which bear against the upwardly extending lugs 43 and 45 of the slide member 39 and the plate member 35 respectively. The foregoing arrangement is such that the tension of the spring impels the slide member forwardly to take up the slack of the ribbon as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The plate member 35 is provided on each side with rearwardly extending portions 48 and 49, at the inner ends of which are provided upwardlyextending guide pins 50 and the lower ends of which respectively are fixedly secured to the rearward extensions 48 and 49 of the plate member 35. The upper ends of the pins 5|! and iii are provided with head portions 52.

The horizontal plate member 35 is also provided with a tongue portion 53 which extends from the front side, vertically upwards as at 53 and thence horizontally as at 54 over the top of the cover plate 33 of the reservoir, and is secured by means of a screw 55 at its inner end to the top of the vertical spindle ill on which the ink reservoir, and its associated parts, are rotated.

The ribbon 56 extends around the semi-circumference of the perforated cylinder 30, and thence extends on one side around the spool 31 which is journaled on the fixedly located axis, and thence extends rearwardly passing around the vertical guide pin 50. The ribbon 56 then extends across between the type bar heads 51 and the platen l2 to the vertical guide pin 5| on the other side of the machine, thence passing forwardly to the spool 4| which is journaled on the spindle 40 carried by the slide member 39. After passing around a portion of the spool 4|, the ribbon 56 extends to the surface of the perforated cylinder 30.

The operation of the ribbon mechanism will now be readily understood. As hereinbefore pointed out, in the normal operation of the machine the platen |2 is rotated in a step by step motion by means of. any preferred mechanism not shown. The rotatable motion of the platen I2 is transmitted by the gear wheel M on the end of the platen shaft l3 through the pinion l5 on the end of the worm shaft It so that as the platen I2 is rotated, with the usual step by step motion, said motion will be transmitted through the gear wheel 14 and pinion l5 to the worm shaft I6. As the worm shaft is thus'rotated, the movement is transmitted by means of the worm wheel l8 to the ink reservoir by means of the lugs carried by the disc member 24.

When the ink reservoir is thus rotated, the motion will be transmitted to the ribbon 56 which passes around the inner semi-circumference of the perforated cylinder 30 so that the ribbon will thus be actuated with a step by step motion whenever the machine is operated. Any slack in the endless ribbon 58 will be taken up by the tension of the spring 4"! mounted on the pin 45 which tends to push the slide member 39 and spool 4| forwardly for such purpose.

It will also be seen that the replacing of the ribbon when the same becomes worn may be readily and easily accomplished, it being merely necessary to place a portion of the same over the perforated cylinder, and then pass another portion around spool 31, thence inwardly to the guide rpin 50, then across between the type bar heads 51 and the platen I2 and around the guide pin 5|. The spool 4| will now be pushed inwardly by the operator and the ribbon placed around in front of said spool 4|. The spool 4|. when the tension of the spring is released, will move forwardly to take up the slack in the ribbon and stretch the same uniformly.

I claim:

'1. In a typewriter, a rotatable platen, a vertical spindle, a rotatable ink reservoir mounted on said spindle, means for rotating said ink reservoir in unison with the platen, said ink reservoir including a foraminous cylinder, an annulus of ink absorbent material within said foraminous cylinder, an endless ink-carrying ribbon having a portion extending around a portion of the foraminous cylinder of the ink reservoir, a pair of idler pulleys around a portion of each of which the ribbon extends, one of said idler pulleys being journaled on a fixed axis, a slide member carrying the other of said idler pulleys, spring means for impelling said slide member and the idler pulley carried thereby forwardly, a plurality of type bar heads disposed in front of the platen. guide members at each side thereof, and the ribbon having portions extending rearwardly from the idler pulleys and around said guide members and having a portion extending across between the type bar heads and the platen.

2. In a typewriter, a rotatable platen, a. worm actuated in unison with said platen, a worm wheel engaged by said worm, a vertical spindle upon which said worm wheel is rotatably mounted, a disc member mounted on said spindle having downwardly extending lugs engaging apertures in said worm wheel, said disc member also having upwardly extending lugs, a rotatable ink reservoir mounted on said spindle, said ink reservoir having a bottom member having apertures engaged by said upwardly extending lugs of the disc member, a foraminous cylinder mounted on the periphery of said bottom memher, an annulus of ink absorbent material within said foraminous cylinder, and an endless inkcarrying ribbon having a portion extending around a portion of the foraminous cylinder of the ink reservoir.

3. In a typewr ter, .a totatable platen, a wo m actuated n umson w th sa d plat n a wo m wh el e g ged by sa d wormx .a ver ical spindle upon whi h said worm wheel is rota ab y mounted, a disc member m unted o sa d spin dl having downwardly xt ndin ugs en a in ap r ur s in said worm wh e said dis member also having upwardly extending lugs, .a 1'0.- atable ink re ervoir m unted on said sp ndl said ink reservoir havin a b ttom member h ing apertures ng g dbv said upward y x endins l gs of the di c m mber, a af rami o e i der mounted on. h r phe y of said bottom m mber, an ann lus of ink absorbentma rial wi hin aid f minous cy nder, an end e ink carrying ribbon having a portion extending around a po t on. of the for m nous cylinder i h in reserv ir, a p ura ty of tim b heads disposed in hem of th p aten, and t e ribbon having a por ion extending across between the type bar heads and the platen.

4. In a typewriter, a rotatable platen, a worm actuated in unison with said pla e-n, a worm wheel engaged by said worm, a vertical spindle upon which said worm wheel is rotatablgy mounted, .a disc, member mounted on said spindle having downwardly extending lugs engaging apertures in said worm wheel, said disc member also having upwardly extending lugs, a rotatable ink reservoir mounted 0. Said spi.ndle said ink reservoir havinga bottom member having apers tun s. engaged by said upwardly extending lugs .of the disc member, a foraminous cylinder mounted on the periphery of said bottom member, an annulus of ink absorbent material within said foraminous cylinder, an endless ink -carrying rib.- bon having a portion extending around a portion of the foraminous cylinder of the ink reservoir, a plurality of type bar heads disposed in front of the platen, guide members at each side thereof, and the ribbon having portions extending around said guide members and across between the type bar heads and the platen.

5. In a typewriter, a rotatable platen, a worm actuated in unison with said platen, a worm wheel engaged by said worm, a vertical spindle u o which sa d Worm whe l is rotatably mounted, a disc member mounted on said spindle having downwardly extending "lugs engaging a ures n aid W m wh e said disc member also having upwardly extending lugs, a rotatable ink reservoir mounted on said spindle, said ink reservoir having a bottom member having apertures engaged by said upwardly extending lugs of the disc member, a foraminous cylinder mounted on the periphery of said bottom member, an annulus of ink absorbent material within said foraminous cylinder, an endless ink-carrying ribbon having a portion extending around a portion of the foraminous cylinder of the ink reservoir, a plurality of type bar heads disposed in front of the platen, and the ribbon having a portion extending across between the type bar heads and the platen, and means for taking up slack in the ribbon.

6. In a typewriter, a rotatable platen, a Worm actuated in unison with said platen, a worm wheel engaged by said worm, a vertical spindle upon which said worm wheel is rotatably mounted, a disc member mounted on said spindle having downwardly extending lugs engaging apertures in said worm wheel, said disc member also having upwardly extending lugs, a rotatable ink reservoir mounted on said spindle, said ink reservoir having a bottom member having apertures engagedby-sa d pwa d x entendine l s o the disc membe a ieramio us cylinde mounted on th periphery .of said bottom member an annulus of ink absorbent ma teria with n said foraminous cylinder, an end ess ink-mar ying r bon hav ng a portio t di around a portion of the ioraminous cylinder of theink r se voir a Pa r o idler P l ys a und a p rti n o ea h of wh ch the ribbo exten one of said idler pulleys being journaled on a liner! .a slide member carrying the other .of said dler pul eys. spr n means for impell n sa d slide member and vtl' eidler pulley carried thereby forwardly- 2, plurality of type bar heads disposed in ront of th platen, uide membe s to side there f, and h rib n hav po t ns xtending rearwardly from the idler pulleys and ar lmd said g de m mb rs and havin a p r: tion extending across between the type bar heads nd vthe pl 7. In a typewriter, ,a rotatable platen, a worm actuated in unison with said platen, a worm wheel engaged by ,said worm.- a vertical spindle up n wh ch s id wo m wh el is ro a y mou ed, a disc member mounted on said Spindle having downwardly extending lugs engaging-apertures in said worm wheel, said disc member also having upwardly extending loss, a rotatable ink reservoir mounted on said spindle, said ink reservoir having ,a bottom member having apertures en-r gaged by said upwardly extending lugs of the disc member, a foraminous cylinder mounted on the Periphery .of said bottom member, an annulus of ink absorbent material within said foraminous cylinder, a cover plate extending over said cylinder and having cutouts f-,or supplying ink to the absorbent material, an endless ink-carrying ribs h n hav ng a p rt o e end n a u d abor on of thero ami ous yl nde of the ink re erv a pa of idl r pulle s r und a porti o ach of which the ribbon extends, one of said idler pulleys being .iournaled on a i d a s, a slide m mb ca rying the o her of s id idle pull ys, sprin means in im el-line sa d l e ember and the id er pul y car i d there forwardly, a p urality of type bar heads disposed in front of the platen, guide members at each side thereof, and the ribbon having portions extending rearwardly from the idler pulleys and around said guide members a d havi g apo t on extending c s tween the type bar heads and the platen.

8. In a typewriter, rotatable platen, a shaft upon which said platen is mounted, a gear on said shaft, a pinion engaged by said gear, a shaft upon which said pinion is mounted, a worm on said shaft, a worm wheel engaged by said Worm, a vertical spindle upon which said worm wheel is rotatably mounted, a disc member mounted on said spindle having downwardly extending lugs engaging apertures in said Worm wheel, said disc member also having upwardly extending lugs, a rotatable ink reservoir mounted on said spindle, said ink reservoir having a bottom member having apertures engaged by said upwardly extending lugs 0f the disc member, a foraminous cylinder mounted on the periphery of said bottom member, an annulus of ink absorbent material within said foraminous cylinder, a cover plate extending over said cylinder and having cutouts for supplying ink to the absorbent material, an endless ink-carrying ribbon having a portion extending around a portion of the foraminous cylinder of the ink reservoir, a pair of idler pulleys around a portion of each of which the ribbon extends, one of said idler pulleys being journaled 0n a fixed axis, a slide member carrying the other of said idler pulleys, spring means for impellin said slide member and the idler pulley carried thereby forwardly, a plurality of type bar heads disposed in front of the platen, guide members at each side thereof, and the ribbon having portions extending rearwardly from the idler pulleys and around said guide members and having a portion extending across between the type bar heads and the platen.

9. In a typewriter, a rotatable platen, a rotatable ink reservoir located forwardly of said platen, an endless ink-carrying ribbon havin a portion extending around a portion of the ink reservoir, a pair of idler pulleys around a portion of each of which the ribbon extends, said idler pulleys being located to the sides and forwardly of the ink reservoir, one of said idler pulleys being journaled on a fixed axis, a slide member carrying the other of I said idler pulleys, spring means for impelling said slide member and the idler pulley, carried thereby forwardly, a plurality of type bar heads disposed in front of theplaten, and the ribbon having a, portion extending across between the type bar heads and the platen.

10. In a typewriter, a rotatable platen, a rotatable ink reservoir, an endless ink-carrying ribbon having a portion extending around a portion of the ink reservoir, a pair of idler pulleys around a portion of each of which the ribbon extends, one of said idler pulleys being j ournaled on a fixed axis, a slide'member carrying the other of said idler pulleys, spring means for impelling said slide member and the idler pulley carried thereby forwardly, aplurality of type bar heads disposed in front of the platen, guide members at each side thereof, and the ribbon having portions extending rearwardly from the idler pulleys and around said guide members and having a portion extending across between the type bar heads and the 8 means for impelling said slide member and the idler pulley carried thereby forwardly, a plurality of type bar heads disposed in front of the platen, guide members at each side thereof, and the ribbon having portions extending rearwardly from the idler pulleys and around said guide members and having a portion extending across between the type bar heads and the platen.

12. In a typewriter, a rotatable platen, a rotatable ink reservoir located centrally and forwardly of said platen, means for rotating said ink reservoir in unison with the platen, said ink reservoir having peripheral delivery of the ink contained therein, a plurality of Wpe bar heads disposed in front of the platen, an endless ink carrying ribbon a portion of which extends around the periphery of the ink reservoir and another portion of which extends across between the type bar heads and the platen, and a pair of idler pulleys disposed to the sides and forwardly of the ink reservoir and over which said ribbon passes.

13. In a typewriter, a rotatable platen, a rotatable ink reservoir located centrally and forward- 1y of said platen, means for rotating said ink reservoir in unison with theplaten, said ink reservoir having peripheral delivery of the ink cone tained therein, a, plurality of type bar heads disposed in front of the platen, an endless ink carrying ribbon a portion of which extends around the periphery of the ink reservoir and another portion of which extends across between the type bar heads and the platen, a pair of idler pulleys disposed to the sides and forwardly of the ink reservoir and over which said ribbon passes, at least one of said idler pulleys being movably supported, and means for impelling said movably supported idler pulley forwardly thereby to take up slack in the ribbon.

HARRISON M. VON DUYKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATESPATENTS 

